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When Norman Mailer Was Nobody

1948's 'The Naked and the Dead'
Was Written Before He Was Famous,
And That Is Its Greatest Blessing

By

Cynthia Crossen

Updated Nov. 16, 2007 12:01 a.m. ET

Some critics say "The Naked and the Dead," Norman Mailer's first novel, was the best book he ever wrote. For the next 60 years, his work went downhill.

I doubted that, because I thought "The Executioner's Song," published in 1979, was a very fine piece of reporting and writing. But I have finally read "The Naked and the Dead," and now I think they might be right.